Tangled Lies

by Tayce Skye

* * *

Rating: PG-ish.

Spoilers: All of Season 1 and maybe the first episode of Season 2 (based on unverified info from spoiler sites).

Summary: Post ATY. Will go AU after Season 2 starts. My version of what might happen in (and after) Taipei. Last time on "Tangled Lies"... Dixon comes to the rescue. Sydney and Vaughn escape. We meet Mr. Sark's girlfriend, Katrina Hunt.

Pairings: David/Katrina and a little bit of Sydney/Vaughn.

Distribution: Sure, but don't forget to email me first at teague1350@hotmail.com. I'd also appreciate a link.

Disclaimer: I own this story along with Katrina Hunt. Alias is not mine. It belongs to JJ Abrams, Bad Robot, ABC, etc. No copyright infringement was intended.

Also, one of Vaughn's lines was taken from a Michael Vartan quote. He belongs to himself, obviously.

* * * * *

Jack was worried. He and Will Tippin were at the hanger. Waiting.

After putting up with the reporter for at least an hour, Jack was approaching insanity. Where were Sydney and Vaughn?

"What happened to Syd?" Will asked. Or mumbled, really. Question number 128. Jack sighed.

"She's coming. Go to back to sleep, you look like hell," he said distractedly, hoping it would satisfy Mr. Tippin's curiosity.

"How do I explain my, uh, appearance?"

"If anybody asks, say you were mugged while going to the pharmacy. Tell the people at work--"

"Work. Oh crap! My article!" Will remembered all of a sudden. He told Jack about the story.

"You did what? This could blow Sydney's cover! Do you know what that means?"

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I didn't know--"

"Okay, okay. I'll think of something. Forget about saying you were sick and got mugged. Just--just let me handle this. Don't tell anybody anything unless I tell you to."

Out of the corner of his eye, Jack spotted Sydney, Vaughn, and... Dixon? What the hell was he doing here? They were coming towards the plane. Sydney broke into a run.

"Will!"

* * *

"Like mother, like daughter, eh?" Khasinau had an amused look on his face.

"Too bad she left, we were just getting started. At least we know she is capable. Besides, we were lucky to have obtained her for that long," Irina sighed. She turned to the ex-KGB agent.

"I know Miss Hunt had a hand in this, Alexander. She has a connection to that Michael Vaughn. The girl's very presence is affecting Mr. Sark's performance. Why--"

"So it is Katrina's fault that David was captured in Denpassar?"

"You are too attached to the girl."

"And you are too attached to the boy. Let us not forget your feelings for your daughter, Irina. You must face the facts. She will never join our organization willfully."

"We will get to her, eventually. But first we shall take care of another problem. And I hate to remind you, Alexander, but I am the leader of this organization. Let us not forget that."

* * *

"You've gone too far this time, Katrina. Letting her daughter escape? When she finds out, we'll be--"

"Stop it! I hate it when you pull this self-preservation crap. Yeah, I helped Sydney get away. It'll buy her and Michael some time. And who cares what Irina does to us? It can't be any worse than what we've already gone through," she pointed out.

"That's the problem. I've already risked enough for you. You're not dragging me into this little battle against our employer. I'd actually like to survive this partnership."

Katrina rolled her eyes. "Oh, real manly David. Run away! Scared, are you?"

"You know that's not the point. I won't get aggravated over this issue. It's really quite simple, wrath of Irina: not healthy for anyone involved. Use. Your. Brain."

"And now you're insulting my intelligence. What a charmer." She turned away. He grabbed her arm roughly and shoved her into the bedroom.

* * *

"Syd! Your hair's blue!"

"Oh, Will, what happened?" Sydney's eyes filled with tears at the sight of her battered friend.

"I had some dental work done."

"Oh no. Not you too! I'm so sorry, Will. You didn't deserve this. I'm so sorry for getting you involved," she sobbed.

"I'll be okay. Don't worry. I'm alive, right? Thanks to you, I'm still kicking. Literally." She managed a small, pained smile. He looked around.

"Syd, why is Dixon here? And who's the other guy?"

* * *

"Dixon, I'm don't know how you got here, but I want to thank you. For saving my daughter's life."

"Jack, I don't even know what's going on. What's wrong with Will?"

"I know you've been suspicious of Sydney lately and I assure you, we are not working against the United States. Will Tippin got in over his head and we were forced to trade intel in order to save him. Surely you understand that Syd would do anything for her friends?"

"Yes. I get that. But who is this Vaughn? And what kind of trouble could Will get in that involves Khasinau?"

"Will found out about SD-6 while looking into Daniel Hecht's death. Khasinau kidnapped him to get to Sydney. As for Vaughn, he's just another friend of hers who accidentally got involved. Now, I'm going to ask you not to mention any of this to SD-6 or else all our efforts will have been for nothing. If Sloane finds out about our recent activities, Mr. Tippin will be silenced permanently."

Dixon swallowed hard. He seemed to accept Jack's explanation. "Alright. For Sydney and Will."

* * *

"Is that that coworker of yours? The one from Christmas?" he asked. Will was terrified of her answer. And he was right.

Sydney blushed. She didn't respond, but that was all he needed. After quickly glancing at the man in question, who was pretending to read a safety pamphlet, Will found the courage to continue.

"Is he nice? I mean, is he a good guy?"

"One of the best I know," Sydney replied. His heart broke.

She deserves the best, he thought, mentally chastising himself. Syd deserves to be in love. And although Will loved her, he knew that Vaughn was the one who made her happy.

* * *

He was trying his hardest to not eavesdrop on Sydney and Will's conversation. When her voice broke into his thoughts, Michael almost fell out of his seat.

"Oh! I'm sorry, did I startle you?" He found himself staring into those big, chocolate eyes.

"No, uh, I'm just tired. How are you holding up?"

"Okay, I guess, considering our situation. But I'm much more concerned about you. I thought you were dead," she whispered. Michael saw the moisture that threatened to smudge what was left of her makeup.

"You don't need to worry about me. I have a very powerful breaststroke. The important thing is we all got back in one piece, more or less. And we're gonna get Khasinau--"

"You don't know, do you?"

"Know what?" Michael asked.

"Alexander Khasinau is not 'The Man'. My mom is."

* * * * *

Author's Note: What is the solution to Will's article problem? What will be the reaction to Syd's discovery? And how does heroin relate to anything? Find out in the next chapter!

Please review and don't hold back. Questions, comments, suggestions, speculation, constructive criticism... I'll take what I can get. A gigantic "thank you" goes out to everybody who responded! And don't worry Harriet, Sark isn't going anywhere yet.

Need beta reader. Will travel. Or at least be eternally grateful. Please? Email me.